I'D BE GOTTEN RID OF.
1191 Words
This was the one thought that fueled my decision. I had thought about it for hours and had made the decision to relocate from Texas. If Liam Martinez were to find out that I was pregnant, he'd get rid of me immediately. Liam would do anything to remain in the limelight with no rock stain on his white.
I am not ready to face any of this added to what I'm already going through.
“I’m leaving,” I said again, meeting my sister's gaze. “I can’t stay here, June. Not after everything that’s happened. I need a fresh start.”
June was quiet for what felt like forever and the more the seconds passed, I feared what her response would be.
And then it came.
“You can’t just run away, Melissa!” June’s voice rang through the apartment, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
“I’m not running away,” I said, exhaling sharply as I folded another shirt into my suitcase. “I’m starting over. There’s a difference.”
“No, there isn’t,” she shot back, pacing the length of the room. “You’re letting him win. Don’t you see that? Liam wants you to disappear. He wants to go on living his life like nothing happened, while you’re the one left picking up the pieces!”
I stopped packing and turned to face her. Her eyes were blazing with anger, and I could tell she wasn’t going to let this go.
“What do you expect me to do, June?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Stay here? Work in the same office as him? Pretend everything is fine while he walks around like he owns the world?”
“No,” she said firmly. “I expect you to fight back. Take him to court. Expose him for what he is!”
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “And then what? You really think I can win against him? He’s Liam Martinez, June. He’s got more money than we could ever dream of. He’d bury us in legal fees before we even made it to trial.”
June opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.
“And even if we did make it to court, do you know what they’ll do? They’ll dig into my past. They’ll find every little thing they can to make me look bad. They’ll ruin me, June. I can’t—I won’t go through that.”
Her shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of her. “So that’s it, then? You’re just going to leave?”
I nodded, my throat tightening. “Yes. I need to do this, June. For me.”
She crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. “Fine. But don’t expect me to come with you.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to,” I said softly. “Your life is here. Your friends, your job… I don’t want to uproot that.”
We stood there in silence for a moment, the air heavy with unspoken words. Finally, she sighed, stepping forward to pull me into a tight hug.
“I hate this,” she whispered. “But if you really think this is what’s best for you… I’ll support you. Even if I don’t agree with it. And I'm sorry about yesterday, I really didn't mean any of that.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, holding her close.
---
I left as soon as I could.
The airport was bustling with activity, the hum of voices and the rolling of suitcases creating a chaotic symphony. I clutched my ticket tightly, my heart pounding as I made my way through security.
This was it. The start of a new chapter.
As the plane took off, I stared out the window, the city I’d called home growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely. I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes as memories flooded my mind.
My life had never been easy.
I thought back to the accident, the day everything changed. We’d been so happy, so perfect. My parents were my world, and June and I had the kind of childhood most people dreamed of.
But then the car crash took it all away.
My mother died instantly, and my father slipped into a coma. I spent weeks by his bedside, praying for him to wake up. And when he finally did, it felt like a miracle. I thought we’d get through it together, that we’d rebuild our lives.
But three days later, he was gone.
I was seventeen, barely an adult, and suddenly I was responsible for everything. For June. For myself. For a life that felt like it was crumbling beneath me.
Somehow, I managed to hold it together. I worked three jobs, put myself through college, and with the help of my father's only friend, Mr Tate, I was able to get a job at XLA Ltd. afterwards— Liam Martinez’ company. Ever since then, I made sure June never wanted for anything. I thought I was finally getting ahead, finally building something for myself and my sister.
And now… this.
A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. I couldn’t let myself fall apart. Not now.
The flight was long, but eventually, we landed in Chicago, London. The moment I stepped off the plane, the cold January air hit me, crisp and biting. It was a stark contrast to the suffocating heat of my emotions, and for a moment, I felt a strange sense of relief.
I hailed a cab and gave the driver the address of my new apartment. It wasn’t much—a small one-bedroom in an older building—but it was mine. A fresh start.
The apartment was as modest as I’d expected, with creaky wooden floors and a tiny kitchen. But it was clean and quiet, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a sliver of hope.
I didn’t have time to dwell on it, though. I had an interview scheduled that afternoon, thanks to a job agent I’d contacted before leaving. I barely had time to change before I was out the door again, my heart pounding with nerves.
The interview went surprisingly well. The manager, a kind woman in her fifties, seemed impressed with my resume and my determination. By the end of the meeting, she offered me the job.
I couldn’t believe it.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
On my way home, I decided to stop at the firm's coffee counter to celebrate. I ordered a latte, the warmth of the cup soothing my cold hands as I made my way to a table.
But as I turned, my foot caught on something, and I stumbled, the coffee spilling out of the cup and all over someone standing behind me.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I gasped, looking up at the person I’d just drenched.
But the words caught in my throat as I took in their face.
Little did I know, this would be the start of something different, something I needed.
- Writer
